Where Are My People?: Trusting God with Your Community

God has a community for you. I’m sure of it.

We all have seasons of life when are lonely, when our efforts to make quality friendships happen falls flat. I remember a lengthy season in which I was very occupied but completely unfulfilled in friendship. I had three small children, was a busy homeschooling mom, and found myself in another new community.

Everywhere I went, I felt I was watching people connect, laugh, become close, and I was on the outside. I’m not someone who dives into relationship but I’m not a wilting flower. I made efforts and was not rewarded.

One of my big tries during that time was to join a women’s Bible study offered by the church. There were so many choices. I ended up at the one in the condo with all the cats. And I am deathly allergic to cats. I suffered through for a few weeks and then called it.

It seemed that all of my efforts were leading nowhere.

That was years ago, and I have experienced many ups and downs in the friendship department. I have learned to trust that God does want community for me, that He made me for it, and if I put in a little effort, quality relationships will come again.

Not only are these seasons temporary, they can teach us some things about God and about ourselves.

• God is faithful.
  He will always come through for me even if I have to wait on his timing for awhile. He is there in the waiting.

• God is the best friend I could have.
  In times of loneliness, I am more likely to spend more time talking to God. He loves that. He wants to be close to me and cherishes my dependence on Him. He is a perfect listener and always has the answer. (Sounds like BFF material.)

• God is always leading me to where I need to be.
  Even in community droughts, when we’re not sure what we’ve done wrong, God is moving. His plans and his ways are higher than ours. He can use us in those droughts to focus our attention elsewhere, or to be builders of community.

• Great friendships often come when I take a risk.
  Instead of waiting for others to welcome us, when we become the welcome committee we will find a whole host of other lonely people, just hoping someone will invite them in. We all long for community. Maybe you will be the one to make one happen for someone else. And that is even more fulfilling that being invited.

Take courage in the waiting. Care for your heart. And know that God has good community up his sleeve in due time.

Scripture for meditation

3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. 4 For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; 7 if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; 8 if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.
Romans 12:3-8

Discussion & journal prompts

What is 1 thing you can work on to become a better friend to others? If you’re not sure, ask God. This question is not intended for condemnation but self-reflection and prayer.

What is 1 thing you can do this week to reach out to someone to be a friend?

Ask the Lord to help you put all of your needs for community in his hands and trust his timing and provision for you.

Share your thoughts on this devotion and discussion questions or request prayer in the Dawn app, located in Resources > Community.